Middle English word fordriven comes from Old English for-, Old English drifan, Old English drīfan, Proto-Germanic *fradrībaną
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| for- | Old English (ang) | Forming verbs from verbs with various senses especially ‘wrongly, away from, astray, abstention, prohibition, perversion, destruction’. Used to create intensified adjectives and verbs from other adjectives and verbs, with the sense of completely or fully. Compare Modern English use of up. Very. |
| drifan | Old English (ang) | (intransitive) to drive; rush with violence. (transitive) to drive; force, pursue; drive (back); push. |
| drīfan | Old English (ang) | |
| *fradrībaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| fordrifan | Old English (ang) | To drive away, drive off (something from rest), banish, eject, expel.. To force, compel.. To overtask, load with hardship. |
| fordrīfan | Old English (ang) | |
| fordriven | Middle English (enm) |